What he’ll make of the electric fences enclosing the greens in Portnoo/Narin… it’s the Bill Murray Irish pitch.
Bill, a big golf fan with the classic film Caddyshack in his back catalogue, has been promoting Ireland with a tour of the country.
And wasn’t my old pal Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland with the Great Man just in his element on the links?
Donegal driving
Bill will be playing a host of top courses around the country including my family’s old stomping ground Portnoo/Narin in Co. Donegal.
Nearby Cruit Island, and Portsalon and the new St Patrick’s Links course at Rosapenna just up the coast.
Wicklow wedges
Druids Glen in my old bailiwick of Co. Wicklow is where matters of state are discussed along with the craic.
And where then-Taoiseach Brian Cowen discussed bailing out the banks with financier, and Greystones’ own Seán Fitzpatrick.
A different turf in Kildare
Neighbouring Kildare may be better known as a county of horse-racing.
But it also boasts some famous golf clubs,.
And who can forget Darren Clarke skulling his Guinness in front of the Europe fans at the K Club after spanking the Yanks.
Bill is opting Mark O’Meara’s Carton House.
West is best
Galway and The West is Awake, as the traditional song goes, and Co Mayo, another former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny’s back yard.
And that’s where you’ll find Carne Golf Links.
Enniscrone is the jewel of Co. Sligo, so celebrated by Celtic mystic poet WB Yeats.
Our childhood holidays with my Dublin cousins involved more swimming and fo-karting in the West.
But it has some of the finest courses too with Galway Bay Golf Resort and Connemara a magnet for links lovers.
Southern comfort
While no tour of Ireland would be complete without a trip south to Kerry where Ballybunion is waiting.
And a tip for Bill when he hits Portnoo/Narin just mention Teasy and Jim at the bar and they’ll look after you.
Follow the Bill Murray Irish pitch and his The Links Life series with Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland on YouTube.
